Page 139 of Dominion
“No, you’re not. Did you not hear what I said? He saved my life.”
“I think the favor—if you can call it that—has already been repaid. But for the record, I don’t think you can call it saving your life when he’s the one who put it in danger in the first place.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. Tears were threatening, not because she was worried about Jeremy’s life—which she should be—but because Cody was mocking her personal sense of honor.
“I won’t kill him if it means that much to you, but I’m definitely going to beat his ass if Rabago doesn’t finish him first.”
A tear leaked from the outer corner of her eye. “Why is it all aggression with you wolves? You think you can resolve everything with violence. No wonder that woman we saw at the apartment building is hiding. No one is safe around you guys.”
Too late, she realized the effect of her tirade on Cody. He’d gone pale, eyes wide. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
She’d touched a nerve. She hadn’t meant it—not really. She didn’t understand the wolf culture, and the physical aggression shocked her, but she shouldn’t have judged. Comparing him to whoever abused that female was wrong. Cody wasn’t frightening. He may like to impose his will through a little punishment, but it always ended with hot sex.
“Whatever happened to that female is totally out of the norm. Wolves protect their females and pups at all costs. I would die to keep you safe. I made that promise to your brother-in-law. I’m sorry if that’s too aggressive for your liking, princess.”
He crumpled the paper bag and milk carton into a tight ball and tossed them into a trash can, got on the bike, and started it up.
“Cody, I’m sorry. I’m just not used to your world. I shouldn’t judge.”
His shoulders softened and he took the helmet from her and put it on her head.
“I guess I felt judged by you. You know, about being with Jeremy.”
Cody leaned his forehead against the helmet and snaked one hand around her nape. Their breath mingled. “No, I get it. You’re loyal. But I can’t help feeling protective. I still want to kill the fucker for you. But I won’t.”
11
The next morning, Melissa scrolled through the new house listings on the master real estate system. After another steamy round under the covers, Cody had left for work.
Ben had texted that he’d transferred fifteen thousand dollars to Cody’s account and said they’d come straight to Colorado Springs on Friday, hopefully arriving before the meet-up with Rabago, which Rabago had set for Friday evening in an abandoned lot on the edge of town. She needed to make sure Jeremy was at that meeting too, or else Rabago would probably keep looking for him. She had an idea about where he might be. He had a cousin who lived in Denver. He might have gone there to lie low. She texted him about the money and the meeting, but still hadn’t heard from him.
To distract herself while she waited for a reply, she skimmed through the new listings now.
Her focus shot to a new listing in the Old North End neighborhood. A CJ Steele house! Excitement sped through her veins as she scanned the details. The house was only two blocks from Cody’s place, which meant she could probably slip out and take a peek without him ever knowing she’d been gone. Rabago wouldn’t find her, not on such a short jaunt. Even if Cody found out, it would be worth it. Hell, she’d welcome that kind of interaction with him after the distant cold treatment she’d received the day before.
She picked up the burner cell phone and dialed the dickwad listing realtor Brad Johnson to express her interest. He somehow managed to sound both bored and condescending, giving her the key code, but acting as if he knew the house was out of her price range. Which it was—at least the range she felt comfortable borrowing from her brother-in-law.
Dressed in a skirt and blouse in case she ran into other realtors while she was there, she slipped on her heels and went out Cody’s back door, just in case someone was watching the house. Which was highly unlikely. If Rabago knew where she was, he’d have broken the door down already.
She walked purposefully down the sidewalk, taking long strides and enjoying the warm summer sun. She spotted the house immediately. Like all CJ Steele homes, the yard was impeccably manicured with native trees, shrubs, and flowers, the house gleamed with cobalt blue paint, setting off the old brick. Using the keypad on the electronic Supra lockbox, she opened it and retrieved the key. She pushed the door open, stepped inside and smiled.
Beautiful.
Hard wood floors. Exposed brick walls. Every detail was perfect, as she knew it would be. She rounded the bend into the kitchen and stopped short with a gasp.
Cody turned from the window with a paintbrush in his hand, obviously touching up a last little bit of paint. He straightened when he saw her.
“What are you doing here?” she spluttered. Of course, he ought to be the one asking that question, but she had to say something.
He walked around to the sink and rinsed off his brush. “I could ask you the same, princess.”
“I know, I’m sorry. But it’s a CJ Steele house, and it just came on the market today. I’ve been dreaming of owning one for years, and this is my chance. I didn’t want to miss out.”
Cody hadn’t looked up from the sink, so she continued with her explanation. “Plus, it was so close. I mean, you only live a couple blocks away. I was careful. I mean, there was no one out to see me or anything.”
He finished with the brush and wiped out the sink with a rag, polishing the brushed aluminum faucet and handles before he dropped the brush and the rag onto a work tray.
“You’re in trouble, baby. That’s all I have to say.”